Baby Bones Grows Up

In May 2010 Dalmatian Rescue of Illinois rescued six puppies that were in dire straits. They were taken immediately to Glencoe Animal Hospital for evaluation and care. About five weeks old, the puppies were severely underweight and soaked in their own urine.

The smallest one tipped the scales at only 2 pounds 8 ounces. The staff at the veterinary hospital named him Bones.

Bones was dehydrated and emaciated. “Starving puppy” was the diagnosis that the vet gave him. She noted that with “excellent nursing care this puppy may survive.”

All the puppies were dewormed and given special food. Bones received fluid therapy, too. The veterinarian took him home overnight to care for him. Bones thrived and he survived.

Bones at Glencoe Animal Hospital

The puppies spent a week being cared for at Glencoe Animal Hospital. The five other puppies were named after the staff members who watched over them and tended to their every need: Jeff, Elliot, Ben, Sanchez, and Jolene.

The five little boys and their sister arrived in their foster home healthy, happy and ready for fun!

We created a small Puppy Resort with plenty of toys, a swimming pool, things to climb on, and places to curl up and nap. They were soon running, jumping, playing chase, and wrestling. They learned the hours that breakfast, lunch, and dinner were served and let us know in no uncertain terms how hungry they were!

The pups adored and needed each other and we did our best to make up for the deprivation they had suffered in their early weeks.

They were very aware of their surroundings. They loved the people who came to visit, and were fascinated by the big spotted dogs that occasionally peered into their puppy resort!

Five boys napping and one alert little girl

The puppies arrived with paper collars that gave their names, but we made notes on spots. Each pup had a distinctive personality. We could soon tell one from another.

They had plenty of time each day to play together in their puppy resort, and they were each given plenty of individual attention, too. At least twice a day, each one was given an opportunity to run in the big yard, explore in the little woods, and try out the agility tunnel.

The pups all prospered, made another trip to the vet, and finally, were ready for their new families.

All found loving homes, and all are still with their original families.

Bones grew out of his name: he is now called Louie. His new Mom tells us that he has plenty of energy, loves the water, and sometimes even gets into mischief!

Wonderful to have an update on these precious pups, & I’m looking forward to seeing more of them! When they were first in rescue, I shed tears, wondering how humans could be so cruel & heartless. Today, there are tears of joy, knowing that Dal Rescue & the new families have made a fantastic difference & contribution to the love, health & well being of these precious dogs!

So very touching to read this, and they all came soo far the cute little puppies. I am so glad they all became great little puppies and now enjoy the love that they all so have gotten. I am a Dal Lover had 2 white dal’s and one black and loved every one of them and Miss all of them so much! God Bless each and every one of You and how wonderful of a job you are all doing!

i actually started to cry when i began reading this, having recently lost my dal and best friend of 13+yrs. it is just unbelievable to me that in this day and age any person could even allow this sort of a situation to happen in the first place. i am now overwhelmed with happiness knowing these pups all survived and are doing so well. Now i know there are some angels left in this world,

There are still dogs and puppies everywhere that are forced to live in horrific conditions. Although there are laws that make this kind of treatment illegal, there is very little that can be done in individual cases to prevent this suffering.

Thanks for posting their story Susan! From the moment I picked them up – I knew they were ALL special! The neglect and cruelty they experienced in their short lives was overshadowed and forgotten due to the love and care of so many! My heart truly smiles and sings each time I see them at the reunion or view pictures of their happy lives now!
Unfortunately, as hard as we try, abuse, neglect and cruelty still exists. Each and every Dal that comes to rescue deserves this happy ending….whether you are looking to adopt, foster, assist with transport or donate – I promise it will be an experience that you will never forget!
The little “alert girl” in the photo of all the puppies never left my heart! Her name is now Cinder(ella). She has brought more love and happiness to our family than I thought possible! We are forever grateful to Dal Rescue for giving us this very special gift!!

Oh, I just love happy endings! I, too, am outraged that something like this is allowed to happen in this day and age, but I am so glad that there are good people out there who will jump in and save the day when called upon to do so.

Trainer Tails
Trainer Tails, by Drayton Michaels CTC, is an ongoing series of stories from actual events involving professional dog training scenarios or from personal dog training sessions. The focus of these stories will be to highlight . . .